Senate Democrats reach deal to avert partial government shutdown

Deal calls for splitting a funding bill for DHS from a package of other funding bills

Senators have reached a deal to advance a major package of spending bills to avert a partial government shutdown that was set to begin on Saturday.

The office of Chuck Schumer, the Senate's top Democrat, confirmed the deal calls for splitting a funding bill for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from a package of other funding bills, and that the deal would fund DHS for two weeks at its current levels.